held up, lost place 7th, stayed on to take poor 4th from last
held up, headway 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
made most, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat
tracked leaders, in touch when unseated rider 5 out
mid-division, lost place 11th, soon well behind
tracked leaders, ridden 5 out, soon driven and tailed off
prominent, mistake 4th, ridden and mistake 2 out, soon no extra
held up, ridden 11th, well behind when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden when fell 3 out
Caliban disappointed at Stratford last time but has solid claims on the form shown when successful at Market Rasen previously and Tony Carroll's gelding has to be respected but it may be worth taking a chance with BOW SCHOOL, who gets the verdict ahead of Tell Henry. The last mentioned was well held on his reappearance behind Astarador in a novice chase at Carlisle last month but Martin Todhunter's gelding should come on for the run and may do better now sent back handicapping. Star Shot lacks a recent run and there is a slight concern over the overall form of Paul Webber's string so he may be best left out of calculations. Hi Dancer also lacks a recent outing and of more interest may be Cash Man, although he has been well held in both starts this term. The vote then goes to Howard Johnson's Bow School, who is quickly being put over fences having shown promise over hurdles. Lack of chasing experience should not be a problem for the seven-year-old as he has winning form in point-to-points and he is taken to make a winning debut over regulation fences.
Hi Dancer 50-1 (9-13) Held up, not fluent 2nd, ridden and no real headway approaching 3 out, 15th of 21, 28l behind Auroras Encore (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Star Shot (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after next, 5th of 8, 13l behind Oscar Bay (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f beg chs (2) gd in May.
Tell Henry (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Facing wrong way at start, always in rear, 6th of 9, 21l behind Astarador (11-3) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) gs in Oct.
Cash Man (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) With leader, ridden and weakened from 4 out, 7th of 10, well behind Crocodiles Rock (11-2) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Oct.
John Dillon (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden, outpaced next, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 31l behind Mister Wiseman (10-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Sept.
Park's Prodigy 33-1 (11-3) Behind, outpaced 5th, no impression when hit 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Los Nadis (11-4) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Aug.
Bow School (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, lost 2nd approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Mhilu (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) frm in Oct.
Abstract Folly (IRE) 5-1jt-fav (11-3) Not fluent, always behind, 11th of 15, 38l behind Singhalongtasveer (11-8) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Description (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-12) Always behind, 6th of 9, 40l behind Red Man Ray (11-5) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Caliban (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, prominent, weakened 7th, 7th of 11, 32l behind Cheating Chance (11-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.